Improvement in sheet-metal coffins



1. n. FAnnlNGTuN, 1r. & T. P. AUSTIN.

' Sheet-Metal Coflins. No. 144,5604. Patented Nov.18\,1873.`

NITE STATES Prion.

YJOHN D. FARRINGTON, JR., or NEW YORK, N. Y., AND THEODORE r. AsTIN,

or PORTLAND,

CONNECTICUT.

Specification formingpnrt of Letters Patent No. 1,414,604, dated November 18,1878; application filed February 7, 1873. l

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Beit known that we, JOHN D. FARRINGTON, Jr., of New York city, and THEODORE P. AUSTIN, of Portland, Middlesex county, Gonnecticut, have-invented certain Improvements relating to Sheet-Metal Coflins, of which the following is a specification:

We employ a powerful press with large male and female dies, and produce from rolled metal large pieces properly dished, adapted to serve for the top and bottom, respectively. We consider it practicable, with a proper selection of metal and with proper treatment, to thereby dish or distort the previously plain sheets of metal sufliciently to make the full depth of an ordinary colin by applying the two dished pieces directly together. When, however, a coffin of greater Vdepth is required, or if preferred in the manufacture of ordinary coflins, we can introduce a middle piece otherwise formed; and this central removable piece combined with the other parts constitutes our invention. We form the whole top or the whole bottom in a single piece; but it is not essential to success that it be produced at a single operation. We may pass the sheet of metal i through several dies, dishing it more and more at each operation, and annealing between, if preferred.

The following is a description of what we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part o this speciiication.

Figure l is a plan view of a shallow coiiin complete, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the line S S in Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows the same construction, but with a middle piece which is required to produce a very deep coiiin. Fig. 4. is an enlarged section through the flanges and fastenings, and Fig. 5 is a section through the covering-clip detached.

We use the single term coiiin in this specification to include caskets and all the several styles of receptacles for the dead, of whatever name.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The press described in the patent to W. D.

Grimshaw, dated December 1, 1868, is well adapted for this work. In it the edges are held by pressure between surfaces which will yield when the tension becomes very great, and allow the metal to move gradually inward, holding it meanwhile against wrinkling. The employment of such a press of sufficient power being assumed, large male and female dies of proper form are provided, with also aA corresponding holding-die, which exerts pressure on the plane surface near the edges, and allows it to yield, as required.

fciently large sheets, we insert them successively into the press, and by the operation of the dies form them into the dishin g pieces M N M being of a suitable form for the upper, and

N for the lower, face of .the coffin. It comes from the press with flanges in the right position, which, after being trimmed by suitable shears, worked by hand or otherwise, are punched to receive the screw-bolts D, with their nuts d. Both the exteriors and the interiors of the faces M and N may be richly iinished by japanning, or otherwise, suitable solemn devices being employed, if desired, by

way of decoration. The junctions of M and N may be made tight, when desired, by rubi ber or other suitable packing. E E are long coveringclips, or nearly complete tubes of silvered, brass, or other richly-surfaced material,

which, being prepared beforehand, may be applied with facility to cover the bolts `D and nuts d after they are set in place. The opening in the side of the clip E is only of suiiicient width to receive the iianges with whatever packing is between them, while the space within the clip may be sufficient to allow for the width of the flanges, and for the bolts and nuts. The clips E are made in pieces of proper length, and properly beveled at their ends, and are applied at the angles, and moved into their proper positions by simply thrusting them endwise. When the dishing faces M and N are not of sufficient depth, a middle piece, O, is introduced between, provided with ilanges to match both the top and bottom. The middle piece may be formed of sheet metal, or of any other suitable material, workedby ordinary Selecting suit. ble tough sheet-iron in suf-` means. Flanges with bolts and nuts and covering-clips are not indispensable to the success of the other portions of the invention; but we prefer them. It is ldifcult with so thin and springy material to make the edges exactly coincide and present a tasty appearance. They may be left quite irregular, and still the complete structure may present a tasty appearance by the aid of these covering-clips E.

We are aware that short sectional clips ,as securers for handles have been used on cofins.

We claim- 1. The upper and lower swaged-up pieces M N, with the removable extension-piece O, clamped thereto by means of the screws D d,

or equivalent fastening device, as'and for the JOHN D. .FARRINGTON, JR. THEO. P. AUSTIN.

Witnesses:

W. H. SMITH, W. C. DEY. 

